May, 2012

With dozens of Jubilee beers gracing our shelves and pubs, one that I’ll be popping next weekend is Chiltern Brewery’s Jubilee Sparkling Ale. A classy, 70cl bottle fermented number, I had the good fortune to pour the first glass from the first bottle to be opened when I visited the brewery back in April.

For me, not only does it taste mighty fine, it illustrates this family brewery’s ability to combine innovation with tradition. They may still be working from the same site – admittedly with a 15-barrel plant rather than the original five-barrel one – but the Jenkinson brothers, Tom and George, seen here with Bucks Herald reporter Derek Pelling, have followed founder Richard footsteps in sharing the fun of the brewing process.

So how are the plans going for the forthcoming Jubilee weekend? Pinned down Sunday’s activities? If the 1000-strong Thames flotilla is part of your day, or you are heading anywhere near the South Bank or Borough Market, make tracks for the Jubilee English Wine Festival.

Being held – appropriately enough – in Jubilee Market at Borough Market – that’s right behind The Rake, and within spitting distance of Vinopolis and BrewWharf for those of you who know the area – here’s a way to toast the Queen with some bubbles from the homeland.

Tucked away down a leafy Sussex lane with the almost Disney-like name of Foxhole Lane is a modern success story with a sparkling twist. The Blanc de Blancs 2007 produced by Sam Linter, second generation winemistress at Bolney Wine Estatehas beaten off allcomers to win a Gold Outstanding at the 2012 International Wine & Spirit Competition – just 13 out of 3000 wines from 90 countries scored this top accolade.

“We are thrilled by the result,” said a delighted Sam. “It couldn’t have come at a better time – the country is celebrating and now so are we.”

Available online via the winery and a few other stockists – see below – the judges described the wine as ‘lavish’, like ‘pure white mousse’, ‘dense, clinging and zesty’.

Judges in the UK’s only on-trade wine competition, the Sommelier Wine Awards, have given English wines the thumbs up, awarding not only three Golds, but also a Critics Choice award. One sparkler was chosen as the By the Glass fizz of choice, and a red from Kent picked up a silver.

Jane Peyton writes: My love affair with Humulus Lupulus has just intensified. That darling little hop used for flavouring, aromatising and bittering beer. The Romans introduced hops to Britain not because they were beer drinkers but because they ate the shoots of the plant.

Now, courtesy of the London Brewers' Alliance (LBA) and Peter Haydon's genius idea, I have actually picked and eaten hop shoots. And they rule!

Ever fancied a visit to the fair City of Norwich? Running from 31 May to 10 June, its City of Ale festival is an ideal time.

Renowned for the number of its fine hostelries – in its heyday, it boasted over 450 – following last year's successful inaugural festival, the friendly publicans are once more banding together with brewers and local historians to show you the very best the city has to offer.